I will review this classic Chicago institution by means of a haiku:

Small grocery store
Much smoked meats in Avondale
Perfect, delicious

The best bar on the North Side of Chicago, one of the best in the nation. Amazing food, amazing cocktails, cheap Wisconsin beer, out of this world individualized service for all customers, not just the regulars. I have been coming back here ever since the first time I visited, years ago. Best experience will be visiting on a weeknight because it is packed with out of towners all weekend. Note that they are closed on Mondays.

I always receive excellent customer service here, even when I am not even coming in to buy something. I have purchased rolling tobacco, papers, lighters, etc. here over the years. Today I went in looking just for pipe cleaners for a tobacco pipe, and even though they are not suited towards tobacco pipes, they found everything I needed in their inventory and I was out the door in minutes. Superb CS.

Madison's Village Bar, in the westside Westmoreland neighborhood, is the best bar in the universe. Madison is chock-full of great bars, but this one is really head and shoulders above the others. There is nothing else quite like the place. I went to college in Madison in the early 2000's, but I never knew The Village Bar existed until a couple years ago while I spent a year living on Madison's far west side. The number 6 Metro bus that would take me into the Isthmus goes right by The Village Bar, a quaint house-shaped place in a quiet residential area, across the street from a municipal golf course. After gazing at the classic red neon sign above the door a couple times, I decided that I had the check the place out. The food (mainly burgers) is simple, but very satisfying. My regular order there is a cheeseburger with American cheese on a hard roll with grilled onions. It is my favorite burger in town. But ultimately it isn't the food--or the idyllic, ultra-Wisconsinite surroundings and ambiance--that brings me back to The Village Bar. What makes this place my favorite bar is that it is the friendliest bar I've ever been to. And I go to bars a lot. On my second visit to this place, the staff had already begun treating me like a valued regular customer. And most of the patrons you meet there just automatically consider you their buddy. It's like the friendliest private club in the world--except anyone can join any time for free. If you are looking for a bar in Madison where you can spend a relaxing afternoon among some new friends, this is your place!